Vigil held for city's latest shooting victims

Friends and family of Anthony Ford gathered today at 1621 E. Fayette St. for a vigil at the home where the 32-year-old Syracuse man was killed in a drive-by shooting Tuesday.

Ford, of 244 Croly St., was sitting on the porch with his cousin, Marie Bullard, 26, of 1621 E. Fayette St. About 4 a.m., someone from the passenger side of a passing car opened fire toward Bullard's porch.

A bullet hit Ford in the chest. Another bullet hit Bullard in the shoulder, and a third grazed her head, she said.

Bullard, who attended the vigil, said she is healing well but struggles to understand who killed her cousin and why. Police have not made any arrests.

The vigil, held by Mothers Against Gun Violence, showed her that she is loved, she said.

"Somebody cares," she said. "They showed their support."

Eleven people attended the vigil. Some were family and friends of Ford; others were members of Mothers Against Gun Violence. Many spoke about losing someone they loved to violence.

"We need Neighborhood Watch," said Mary Burke, a family friend who knew Ford from her church. "What happened to you happened to me. We need to pull together. We may not be able to stop it (violence), but we can make a start."

The group prayed and held hands. The steady rain prevented them from lighting candles.

"When one in this community hurts, we all hurt," said organization founder Helen Hudson to Ford's family. "We're watching our children die. We don't know you and you don't know us, but please remember that you're not alone."

Ford was the 14th homicide victim in Syracuse this year. His death was the seventh by gun.